Vivir Sin Dormir: Exploring Valencia, Spain

If you’re ever visiting the southeastern part of Spain and you don’t have Valencia on your list, you’re making a massive mistake. I had been to Valencia once before as a student during a day trip with CIEE while I was studying abroad in Alicante in 2009. It was to experience the mascletà during the Fallas.

A little more about this colorful holiday… The Fallas is a traditional springtime celebration in that particular region of Spain. People essentially build paper mâché statues (also called ‘Fallas’) for half a year. Then, each neighborhood puts them on display for a week. Everyone goes around the neighborhoods to look at them, and I believe there is even a competition to see which one has the best Falla.

The Mascletà is a noisy explosion of fireworks that takes place in the Plaça de l’Ajuntament every day of the Fallas. On the final day, they have the most important of the Mascletàs called “La Cremà”. That evening they have the fire parade, and then the burning of the Fallas. Essentially, Valencia becomes a massive haven for pyromaniacs. A the end, you will find bonfires where the majestic statues used to stand.

In addition to its international fame for this celebration, Valencia has even MORE to offer. Its unofficial motto is “Vivir sin dormir” and that means “Live without sleeping” in Spanish. This is appropriate because there are not enough hours in the day to cover all that you can do in this wonderful, bustling city.

When I was out in Alicante this past Christmas break, D and I decided to drive out to Valencia and explore it together. I hadn’t been back since 2009, and we both wanted to visit the museum of science. The “City of Arts and Sciences” is what it’s called and it is one of the more known sights in Valencia. The architecture is so stunning. You will find this so appealing, especially if you have slight OCD.

I would recommend designating a whole day to this place. There are lots of interesting shows in the planetarium and we felt a bit rushed through the science bit because we wanted to see other places. I would also recommend that you look through what time the shows are happening prior to planning your visit. We came at a time where the shows we would have liked to see, had already played.

Fun Fact: The dome of the Opera house had mosaic tiles on it originally, but it became a hazard to people’s safety when the tiles started to fall off. Now, it’s mosaic-free.

Unfortunately, we missed our chance to go into the Miguelete, because a lot of these places will close for tourists at around 5pm. However, we did spend a substantial amount of time exploring the cathedral, and that was very well worth it! The Cathedral is a proud host of numerous amounts of relics. For example, it is home to the Holy Grail, a ton of fantastic art, and there even is the mummified arm of St. Vicente from 304 AD on display.

We wandered into Moltto, right off of the central Plaza. We were quite hungry after walking around all day, and the thought of having some warm croquettes and paella made us happy. Overall, it was a really great restaurant. The service was a bit slow, but the food was incredible.

This building is really interesting and another must-see. “La Lonja de la Seda” a UNESCO world heritage site. It was built between 1482 – 1533 and it’s an example of the late Gothic architecture. This building used to be the center of trade, especially of Silk. That’s why it’s called the Silk Exchange. What the architecture really expresses is how rich the merchants and the city was. It is evident that Valencia’s economy was thriving. What I loved the most about it was the courtyard with the orange trees. It looked surreal – something out of a fairytale.

The ‘Torres Serranos’ were an important part of the protection of the city. They are a medieval gate, and also served as a jail at a later point.

These towers are open from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm and on Sundays and Holidays, they close at 3pm. It’s 2 euros to get in, unless it’s a Sunday or a Holiday, then it’s free. We arrived right as they were closing. It was such a shame because I would have liked to come in, but we will save it for the next visit!

Some other places to see…

Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús

I passed by this church on accident, and was so impressed by the doors and architecture. Next time I visit, I will definitely pay it a more meaningful visit!

Plaça de l’Ajuntament

You can always take a cheesy photo in front of the fountain or take some time to have ‘un café con leche’ (coffee with milk) in the Plaza. What I like about it is it’s the center of all the hustle and bustle of the city. Everybody is going at their own pace, making the city center of Valencia feel alive.

Thanks for tuning in! Have you been to Valencia before? What are your favorite places to visit in the city?

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I like to document my fitness journey, my trials and errors with trying to live a (mostly) Paleo lifestyle, my travels and adventures, fashion and beauty finds, things I'm reading, my love for coffee and wine, and some of my thoughts on this little corner of the internet!

caffeineberry

Hi, I'm Ana!

Welcome to my little Hull (and beyond!) lifestyle blog. I like to document my fitness journey, my trials and errors with trying to live a (mostly) Paleo lifestyle, my travels and adventures, fashion and beauty finds, things I'm reading, my love for coffee and wine, and some of my thoughts on this little corner of the internet!